Such a Great Feeling

[D'Snowth]

For the past seven years I've done little amateur comic strips as a hobby and passion; I had been doing a few separate comics strips from 1999 to now (one from 1999 to 2003, a spin-off from 2003 to 2006, a short-lived one during 2004, and my short-lived M*A*S*H comics all this year). Through-out these seven years, I didn't really manage to get into puppetry (even though I wanted to) until the local PBS hired me as a puppeteer since their's wasn't able to make their pledge drive (around late 2004). Since then I've really enjoyed doing my puppetry, since the pledge drives haven't been done in almost a year now, I haven't really been able to do anything with puppets except play around with them at home. Sadly, I have been over-doing myself in comic strips this year (virtually going non-stop for seven months with two separate series), so I pulled the plug on all comic strips I do, and have announced my "retirement" from comic strips so I can focus more on my puppetry; and I have to tell you I feel so much better since I did that, even though all I can do right now is play around with them at home, I'm really understanding what Jim Henson said about once you get a puppeteer into a puppet the hard thing is getting them out again, especially since I modified my puppet's "skull" and his jaw is so much more flexible and easier to manipulate now. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I wish one could make a living on puppetry alone (which I'll delve into in another thread in a minute).

Does anyone else just get a great feeling when they're working a puppet?

 

[Barry Lee]

I'm glad to see your sticking to one thing, but I for one did enjoy your M*A*S*H comics aswell. Good luck with your puppetry btw, would love to see some of your work in the field!

 

[biblebetty]

I belong to a puppet team at my church for 5 yrs. I've search drifferent ministries for quite a few yrs, but when a spot on the puppet team opened up i have never been so happy. performing, building, traveling, training new puppeteers, next to my God, marriage & children this has been a very happy time in my life. I feel this is something i was born to do. Once I become a six yrs old child with a lisp and loves food there no stopping me. a lot of my act is memories of my childhood, being a daycare lady for 4 yrs in an elementary school, and my daughter & son. the only sad thing is I may have to quit. i'm 50yrs old and i'm having a hard time with my hands, last show biblebetty had a mouth cramp. (it was painful). so i may be retireing in one more yr (if i last) and just manage behind the seans and keep building. I don't know, keep a good thought.

 

[Giar Fraggle]

Funny you should mention. I've had to put my puppetry on hold because I've been swamped with other stuff, but I keep my (unfinished) puppet Mark on a shelf in my room. Yesterday, I walked in and he was lying on the floor, so I picked him up by putting my arm in him, and I just got this feeling of "this is right, this is what I'm supposed to be doing". So...I'll probably be looking into puppeteering jobs again.

 

[redBoobergurl]

I'm not a puppeteer, but I wanted to know what this thread was about so I read and I think it's great Snowthy! I didn't know you had the chance to work for your local PBS station! That is just awesome! I really think it's wonderful that you're committing to one thing and I wish you the best of luck!

 

[wes]

I have been working with puppets since i was a child, I love it! If I go one day with out puppets I think I would fall in to a depression!

Whoopie in Sister Act 2 told the Girl if you wake up in the moring and your first thought is singing and the last thought when you go to be is sining... then you need to be a singer, of course I put that in a puppetry perspective.

D'Snowth, I don't know how old you are but I'm 26 I'm a para-pro(teachers aide) this is not what I want to do. I am determined to Work in the puppetry field. I incourage you to do the same, if not you'll will never be happy and have a perminate case of shoulda-coulda-woulda's. Me and my wife know that we will have to make some sacrifices, which are moving away from friends and family and starting all over again. It's a risk that we are willing to take.

You to might have to make some sacrifices or take some calculated risks that you are willing to take, but in the end will be very rewarding and you'll wake up thankfull that your'er doing something you really like!

Good luck my Kathy Greenwood lovin' friend!!